Effect of aspect ratio of elliptical stirred vessel on mixing time and flow field characteristics in the absence of baffles

Elliptical tanks were used as an alternative to circular tanks in order to improve mixing efficiency and reduce mixing time in unbaffled stirred tanks(USTs). Five different aspect ratios of elliptical vessels were designed to compare their mixing time and flow field. Computational fluid dynamics(CFD) simulations were performed using the k–ε model to calculate the mixing time and simulate turbulent flow field features, such as streamline shape, velocity distribution, vortex core region distribution, and turbulent kinetic energy(TKE) transfer. Visualization was also carried out to track the tinctorial evolution of the liquid phase. Results reveal that elliptical stirred tanks can significantly improve mixing performance in USTs. Specifically, the mixing time at an aspect ratio of 2.00 is only 45.3% of the one of a circular stirred tank. Furthermore, the secondary flow is strengthened and the vortex core region increases with the increase of aspect ratio. The axial velocity is more sensitive to the aspect ratio than the circumferential and radial velocity. Additionally, the TKE transfer in elliptical vessels is altered. These findings suggest that elliptical vessels offer a promising alternative to circular vessels for enhancing mixing performance in USTs.

A strategy for strengthening chaotic mixing of dual shaft eccentric mixers by changing non-Newtonian fluids kinetic energy distribution

Efficiently modulating the velocity distribution and flow pattern of non-Newtonian fluids is a critical challenge in the context of dual shaft eccentric mixers for process intensification,posing a significant barrier for the existing technologies.Accordingly,this work reports a convenient strategy that changes the kinetic energy to controllably regulate the flow patterns from radial flow to axial flow.Results showed that the desired velocity distribution and flow patterns could be effectively obtained by varying the number and structure of baffles to change kinetic energy,and a more uniform velocity distribution,which could not be reached normally in standard baffle dual shaft mixers,was easily obtained.Furthermore,a comparative analysis of velocity and shear rate distributions is employed to elucidate the mechanism behind the generation of flow patterns in various dual-shaft eccentric mixers.Importantly,there is little difference in the power number of the laminar flow at the same Reynolds number,meaning that the baffle type has no effect on the power consumption,while the power number of both unbaffle and U-shaped baffle mixing systems decreases compared with the standard baffle mixing system in the transition flow.Finally,at the same rotational condition,the dimensionless mixing time of the U-shaped baffle mixing system is 15.3%and 7.9%shorter than that of the standard baffle and the unbaffle mixing system,respectively,which shows the advantage of the U-shaped baffle in stirring rate.

Influences of Mixed Traffic Flow and Time Pressure on Mistake-Prone Driving Behaviors among Bus Drivers

Bus safety is a matter of great importance in many developing countries, with driving behaviors among bus drivers identified as a primary factor contributing to accidents. This concern is particularly amplified in mixed traffic flow (MTF) environments with time pressure (TP). However, there is a lack of sufficient research exploring the relationships among these factors. This study consists of two papers that aim to investigate the impact of MTF environments with TP on the driving behaviors of bus drivers. While the first paper focuses on violated driving behaviors, this particular paper delves into mistake-prone driving behaviors (MDB). To collect data on MDB, as well as perceptions of MTF and TP, a questionnaire survey was implemented among bus drivers. Factor analyses were employed to create new measurements for validating MDB in MTF environments. The study utilized partial correlation and linear regression analyses with the Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) method to explore the relationships between MDB and MTF/TP. The results revealed a modified scale for MDB. Two MTF factors and two TP factors were found to be significantly associated with MDB. A high presence of motorcycles and dangerous interactions among vehicles were not found to be associated with MDB among bus drivers. However, bus drivers who perceived motorcyclists as aggressive, considered road users’ traffic habits as unsafe, and perceived bus routes’ punctuality and organization as very strict were more likely to exhibit MDB. Moreover, the results from the three MDB predictive models demonstrated a positive impact of bus route organization on MDB among bus drivers. The study also examined various relationships between the socio-demographic characteristics of bus drivers and MDB. These findings are of practical significance in developing interventions aimed at reducing MDB among bus drivers operating in MTF environments with TP.

A Method in Mixed Frequency-time domain for Fatigue Life Estimation of Steel Girders of Cable-stayed Bridges Due to Buffeting

发展了斜拉桥钢主梁抖振疲劳寿命的混合时－频域方法．在本方法中，首先建立了桥面处的风速风向概率密度函数，导出的应力谱因其包括背景分量而不再是窄带谱．据应力谱模拟出了疲劳应力的时间历程，并用雨流计数法统计了其幅值特性．基于修正的Ｍｉｎｅｒ定理导出了考虑风速风向作用的桥梁主梁抖振疲劳寿命的估算公式，并用此分析了杨浦大桥钢主梁的抖振疲劳寿命．结果表明，风向对抖振疲劳寿命有很大影响；杨浦大桥主梁的疲劳寿命远大于设计寿命．

Large Eddy Simulations of Mixing Time in a Stirred Tank

Large eddy simulations (LES) of mixing process in a stirred tank of 0.476m diameter with a 3-narrow blade hydrofoil CBY impeller were reported. The turbulent flow field and mixing time were calculated using LES with Sma-gorinsky-Lilly subgrid scale model. The impeller rotation was modeled using the sliding mesh technique. Better agree-ment of power demand and mixing time was obtained between the experimental and the LES prediction than that by the traditional Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approach. The curve of tracer response predicted by LES was in good agreement with the experimental. The results show that LES is a reliable tool to investigate the unsteady and quasi-periodic behavior of the turbulent flow in stirred tanks.

Optimization of mixing time in a ladle with dual plugs

Based on the two-phase fluid （Eulerian-Eulerian） model, a mathematical model about the gas-liquid flow and mixing behavior was developed to investigate the effect of the offset of dual plugs, the included angle of dual plugs with a center point, and gas flow rate on the mixing time in a ladle with dual plugs. Numerical results indicate that two types of recirculation zones exist in the ladle. One is the middle recirculation between gas and liquid plumes, and the other is the sidewall recirculation between plumes and the ladle sidewall. The correction shows that the mixing time is in proportion to -0.2676 power of gas flow rate. There is a unique optimum offset of dual plugs with a particular included angle, in turn, a unique optimum included angle of dual plugs exits with a particular offset.

Flow zone distribution and mixing time in a Peirce-Smith copper converter

Peirce-Smith copper converting involves complex multiphase flow and mixing.In this work,the flow zone distribution and mixing time in a Peirce-Smith copper converter were investigated in a 1:5 scaled cold model.Flow field distribution,including dead,splashing,and strong-loop zones,were measured,and a dimensionless equation was established to determine the correlation of the effects of stirring and mixing energy with an error of<5%.Four positions in the bath,namely,injection,splashing,strong-loop,and dead zones,were selected to add a hollow salt powder tracer and measure the mixing time.Injecting a quartz flux through tuyeres or into the backflow point of the splashing wave through a chute was recommended instead of adding it through a crane hopper from the top of the furnace to improve the slag-making reaction.

CFD Simulation of Local and Global Mixing Time in an Agitated Tank

The Issue of mixing efficiency in agitated tanks has drawn serious concern in many industrial processes. The turbulence model is very critical to predicting mixing process in agitated tanks. On the basis of computational fluid dynamics（CFD） software package Fluent 6.2, the mixing characteristics in a tank agitated by dual six-blade-Rushton-turbines（6-DT） are predicted using the detached eddy simulation（DES） method. A sliding mesh（SM） approach is adopted to solve the rotation of the impeller. The simulated flow patterns and liquid velocities in the agitated tank are verified by experimental data in the literature. The simulation results indicate that the DES method can obtain more flow details than Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes（RANS） model. Local and global mixing time in the agitated tank is predicted by solving a tracer concentration scalar transport equation. The simulated results show that feeding points have great influence on mixing process and mixing time. Mixing efficiency is the highest for the feeding point at location of midway of the two impellers. Two methods are used to determine global mixing time and get close result. Dimensionless global mixing time remains unchanged with increasing of impeller speed. Parallel, merging and diverging flow pattern form in the agitated tank, respectively, by changing the impeller spacing and clearance of lower impeller from the bottom of the tank. The global mixing time is the shortest for the merging flow, followed by diverging flow, and the longest for parallel flow. The research presents helpful references for design, optimization and scale-up of agitated tanks with multi-impeller.

Theoretical analysis of fluid mixing time in liquid-continuous impinging streams reactor

The mixing time of impact zone in liquid-continuous impinging streams reactor(LISR) is theoretically calculated by empirical model and modern micromixing model of the fluid mixing process, and the variation laws of macromixing time and micromixing time are quantitatively discussed. The results show that under a continuous and stable operating condition, as the paddle speed increases, the macromixing time and micromixing time calculated by the two models both decrease, even in a linkage equilibrium state. Simultaneously, as the paddle speed increases, the results figured by the two models tend to be consistent. It indicates that two models both are more suitable for calculation of mixing time in high paddle speed. Compared with the existing experimental results of this type of reactor, the mixing time computed in the speed of 1500 r/min is closer to it. These conclusions can provide an important reference for systematically studying the strengthening mechanism of LISR under continuous mixing conditions.

A DISCRETE TIME TWO-LEVEL MIXED SERVICE PARALLEL POLLING MODEL

We present a discrete time single-server two-level mixed service polling systems with two queue types, one center queue and N normal queues. Two-level means the center queue will be successive served after each normal queue. In the first level, server visits between the center queue and the normal queue. In the second level, normal queues are polled by a cyclic order. Mixed service means the service discipline are exhaustive for center queue, and parallel 1-limited for normal queues. We propose an imbedded Markov chain framework to drive the closed-form expressions for the mean cycle time, mean queue length, and mean waiting time. Numerical examples demonstrate that theoretical and simulation results are identical the new system efficiently differentiates priorities.

ANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENT OF LEAD TIME FOR JOB SHOP UNDER MIXED PRODUCTION SYSTEM

Firstly an overview of the potential impact on work-in-process （WIP） and lead time is provided when transfer lot sizes are undifferentiated from processing lot sizes. Simple performance examples are compared to those from a shop with one-piece transfer lots. Next, a mathematical programming model for minimizing lead time in the mixed-model job shop is presented, in which one-piece transfer lots are used. Key factors affecting lead time are found by analyzing the sum of the longest setup time of individual items among the shared processes （SLST） and the longest processing time of individual items among processes （LPT）. And lead time can be minimized by cutting down the SLST and LPT. Reduction of the SLST is described as a traveling salesman problem （TSP）, and the minimum of the SLST is solved through job shop scheduling. Removing the bottleneck and leveling the production line optimize the LPT. If the number of items produced is small, the routings are relatively short, and items and facilities are changed infrequently, the optimal schedule will remain valid. Finally a brief example serves to illustrate the method.

Stochastic Stability of Gene Regulatory Networks with Mixed Time-Delays

The stochastic stability problem was considered for a class of gene regulatory networks with mixed time-delays.The mixed time-delays under consideration comprise both discrete timevarying delays and distributed time-delays.By employing a new Lyapunov function and conducting stochastic analysis,a linear matrix inequality(LMI) approach was developed to derive the criteria ensuring stability.The proposed criteria can be checked by using Matlab LMI toolbox.A simple example was provided to demonstrate the good effectiveness and applicability of the proposed testing criteria.

Effect of Melt Mixing Time in Internal Mixer on Mechanical Properties and Crystallization Behavior of Glycidyl Methacrylate Grafted Poly (Lactic Acid)

Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was grafted onto poly (lactic acid) (PLA) by melt mixing in internal mixer using dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as an initiator. The results from proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated that the grafting reaction of GMA onto PLA took place successfully. The impact strength of PLA-g-GMA was significantly higher than that of pure PLA. The crystallinity of PLA, obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), decreased after grafting. In order to obtain the optimal mixing conditions, the mixing time was varied into 7, 10 and 14 min. The optimum mixing time of 10 min was found to give the optimum mechanical properties of glycidyl methacrylate grafted poly (lactic acid) (PLA-g- GMA). However, the mixing time played no important role in impact behavior of PLA-g-GMA. In addition, the highest crystallinity was obtained with the PLA-g-GMA prepared with the mixing time of 7 min.

Research on fast real-time adaptive audio mixing in multimedia conference

In multimedia conference, the capability of audio processing is basic and requires more for real-time criteria. In this article, we categorize and analyze the schemes, and provide several multipoint speech audio mixing schemes using weighted algorithm, which meet the demand of practical needs for real-time multipoint speech mixing, for which the ASW and AEW schemes are especially recommended. Applying the adaptive algorithms, the high-performance schemes we provide do not use the saturation operation widely used in multimedia processing. Therefore, no additional noise will be added to the output. The above adaptive algorithms have relatively low computational complexity and good hearing perceptibility. The schemes are designed for parallel processing, and can be easily implemented with hardware, such as DSPs, and widely applied in multimedia conference systems.

Stochastic resonance in a time-delayed asymmetric bistable system with mixed periodic signal

This paper studies the phenomenon of stochastic resonance in an asymmetric bistable system with time-delayed feedback and mixed periodic signal by using the theory of signal-to-noise ratio in the adiabatic limit. A general approximate Fokker-Planck equation and the expression of the signal-to-noise ratio are derived through the small time delay approximation at both fundamental harmonics and mixed harmonics. The effects of the additive noise intensity Q, multiplicative noise intensity D, static asymmetry r and delay time T on the signal-to-noise ratio are discussed. It is found that the higher mixed harmonics and the static asymmetry r can restrain stochastic resonance, and the delay time τ can enhance stochastic resonance. Moreover, the longer the delay time τ is, the larger the additive noise intensity Q and the multiplicative noise intensity D are, when the stochastic resonance appears.

Mixed time discontinuous space-time finite element method for convection diffusion equations

A mixed time discontinuous space-time finite element scheme for secondorder convection diffusion problems is constructed and analyzed. Order of the equation is lowered by the mixed finite element method. The low order equation is discretized with a space-time finite element method, continuous in space but discontinuous in time. Stability, existence, uniqueness and convergence of the approximate solutions are proved. Numerical results are presented to illustrate efficiency of the proposed method.

Mixed sensitivity H_∞ control for LTI systems with varying time delays

Designing a robust controller for a system with timevarying delays poses a major challenge. In this paper, we propose a method based on mixed sensitivity H∞ for the control of linear time invariant（LTI） systems with varying time delays. The time delay is assumed bounded and the upper bound is known. In the technique we propose, the delay affecting the plant to be controlled is treated as an unmodeled uncertainty（in form of multiplicative uncertainty）. That uncertainty is approximated and then an H∞based controller, for the plant represented by the multiplicative uncertainty and the nominal model, is calculated. The obtained H∞controller is used to control the LTI systems with varying time delays. Simulation examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Approximation methods of mixed l_1/H_2 optimization problems for MIMO discrete-time systems

The mixed l1/H2 optimization problem for MIMO (multiple input-multiple output) discrete-time systems is considered. This problem is formulated as minimizing the l1-norm of a closed-loop transfer matrix while maintaining the H2-norm of another closed-loop transfer matrix at prescribed level. The continuity property of the optimal value in respect to changes in the H2-norm constraint is studied. The existence of the optimal solutions of mixed l1/H2 problem is proved. Because the solution of the mixed l1/H2 problem is based on the scaled-Q method, it avoids the zero interpolation difficulties. The convergent upper and lower bounds can be obtained by solving a sequence of finite dimensional nonlinear programming for which many efficient numerical optimization algorithms exist.

Genetic Algorithm for Concurrent Balancing of Mixed-Model Assembly Lines with Original Task Times of Models

The growing global competition compels manufacturing organizations to engage themselves in all productivity improvement activities. In this direction, the consideration of mixed-model assembly line balancing problem and implementing in industries plays a major role in improving organizational productivity. In this paper, the mixed model assembly line balancing problem with deterministic task times is considered. The authors made an attempt to develop a genetic algorithm for realistic design of the mixed-model assembly line balancing problem. The design is made using the originnal task times of the models, which is a realistic approach. Then, it is compared with the generally perceived design of the mixed-model assembly line balancing problem.

基于子循环自适应串行交错时间匹配算法的油浸式变压器绕组瞬态温升计算

针对传统算法存在的步长调整及耦合点选择问题,该文提出基于子循环自适应串行交错(SCAS)的时间匹配算法。首先,在步长调整方面,通过加入自适应(ATS)-启发式(HTS)混合变步长算法,解决步长无法实时调整的问题;然后,针对耦合点选择问题,该文在传统常规串行交错(CSS)时间匹配算法及现有改进方案子循环常规串行交错(SCSS)的基础上,提出SCAS时间匹配算法,采用自适应方案确定计算时间窗及预定耦合点,并引入指数平滑法对其精度进行保证;最后,该文基于110 kV油浸式电力变压器建立二维瞬态单分区分匝绕组模型,并将所提算法与其他传统方法进行对比分析。结果表明:在精度方面,与传统CSS算法相比SCAS算法的流场及温度场最大平均相对误差均不超过0.45%,在可接受误差范围内;在效率方面,SCAS算法总体计算效率较CSS算法提高了近20倍。同时,为了说明所提算法的工程价值,该文搭建基于110 kV变压器绕组模型的温升实验平台,将SCAS时间匹配算法应用于该模型中,实验结果表明:在精度方面,SCAS算法与实验达到稳态时最大绝对误差为2.7 K;在计算效率上,本文所提算法的计算效率较传统算法提升约46倍,计算步数约为传统的1/47,减少了计算冗余。